From ‘Cell ’ to ‘Movement’ : A Celebration of Collectivity and Commitment through CHC’s Journey 1984-2009

The Society for Community Health Awareness, Research and Action (SOCHARA) in Bangalore, also known to most of its contacts and associates as just CHC-Bangalore has reached its Silver Jubilee year in December 2008 (inception: January 1984).  CHC, while continuing its open-ended catalyst support for community health action at many levels is also now evolving a Centre for Public Health and Equity, which will be  a learning center in the new social paradigm with a focus on health equity, social determinants, the rights perspective in health and public health and primary health care oriented health system development.

CHC’s has  done a significant contribution of bringing and keeping together nearly five generations of health activists and researchers  from the sixties to the present generation, it also narrates the thrusts and themes of different phases in the comunity health journey.

Celebrating the Health Movement Paradigm
In December 1983, a small catalyst group of health professionals moved beyond the department of community medicine Department of a medical college in South India to start a study-reflection-action experiment with a dream to participate in the evolution of a health movement. This group soon became known as the Community Health Cell or CHC.

This group influenced the creation of Health Action by Health Accessories For All (HAFA) as a relevant voice in the arena of health communication, from its predecessor Medical Service, the in-house journal of the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI). All through these years CHC has remained a regular contributor to the magazine. HAFA dedicated the December 2008 issue of Health Action to CHC, to acknowledge this little group and its contribution.  Download the whole Issue

1984-2009

NOTE ON THE MODE OF COMMEMORATING THE 25^TH YEAR

This note shares some of the ideas and plans that were proposed by CHC and SOCHARA (society governing CHC) for meaningfully commemorating the 25^th year of CHC.  We had a very comprehensive, nostalgic and enthusiastic jubilee commemoration on the 6th of December, 2008. See Silver jubilee section for reports on the event and publications released on that day.